Lake Bluff Fourth of July - The Food, The Parade, The Beach

The Menu

French Fry Bag stamped with Fleur de Lis - used to serve Ham Sliders

Watermelon with Peach Balsamic Vinegar Reduction, Feta and Mint

Vintage Blue and White

Smoked Salmon, Dill and Potato Tart

Berry Shortcake

Jill's Dipped Strawberries in White Chocolate and Citrus Peel - so good!

Crisp Summer Rose served in vintage eagle glasses- so 4th of July!

Lake Bluff Historical Society  with our very own Penny!

Love this one- Lake Bluff Lawn Mower Drill Team

Penney holding her 1882 Birth of the National Prohibition Party in Lake Bluff sign!

Lots of sail boats in the horizon

Laurell, Katha, Christy and Mr. RTH at the beach - 105 degrees and the water felt good!

Lake Bluff Beach

A hot, hot, hot day in Lake Bluff,  but you felt guilty staying inside in the air conditioning.  We had an early brunch for those who wanted to go the annual Lake Bluff parade and cooked hamburgers for the later crowd.  So it was brunch, the parade, going to the lake, cooking hamburgers and enjoying dessert. And just as the day was ending about 5 o'clock , the transformer by our house blew up  and we were without electricity! So to cool off,  we spent the fourth of July night with our feet in cold water foot baths, sitting on the front porch, just like our ancestors did on the Fourth of July probably 100 years ago.!

Fourth of July in Lake Bluff

With the big 4th of July parade tomorrow, it looks like everyone in town is getting ready for a big celebration. On my walk this morning, I captured these pictures.  Seems like a lot of people are ready for a party!Lawns are manicured, flags and banners are up  and the lake is hazy blue!  Hope you have a wonderful 4th!

Happy Birthday to Me-

So I am entering the next decade- so much to look forward to doing and seeing and cooking and decorating and talking and loving family and friends! Half of the year has quickly gone by and I am looking ahead to the next months of 2012.  I am just getting home from a great dinner with my family and see  a gorgeous bouquet of flowers sent from a dear friend. The beauty and fragility of the sweet peas and roses remind me that life is fragile, sweet, lovely, and always changing for us that choose to  live it to its fullest- I look forward to the next decade and all it's sweet offerings! Happy Birthday to me!

San Francisco with the "Littles"

The family playing Bocce ball

Playing on a haystack

Grand Daughter Audrey's Sunflower she gave to me!

Visiting Picchetti Vineyards - one of our favorites. Love this ceiling!

Cheese from Beechers in Pike's Market that we bought with us to San Fran

Flowers at Ferry Building in San Francisco

Blood Oranges at Ferry Building Market



Petite Gelatin Desserts at La Cocina- beautiful little edible pieces of art!

View from the Ferry Building Boardwalk

View from the Ferry Building Boardwalk

Fisherman's Wharf

Cheddar and purple cauliflower from a local vegetable stand

Lemon Semi Freddo made by my 3 son's and me - divine!

Time to get buckled in and head back to Montana!

Audrey playing in the fields! Bye ! See you next time!

After leaving Seattle, we flew to San Francisco to see my son Wes and his family.  My son from Chicago flew in  and my son from Montana and his family drove over and met us there.  With four grandchildren ( the Little's- smallest children in their classes! thus the nickname "the Littles" ) , we decided that Bocce ball games and petting zoo farms would be fun.  Taking Bart into the city, we all went to the Ferry Building for the big food market, walked the mile plus to Fisherman's Wharf  ( the kid's were troopers), and then rode the trolley. Then it was back to my son's home to prepare a great meal from the goodies that we had purchased from the market. Time to fly back to Chicago and get back to reality!